Yamaha Motor invests in Grab motorcycle ride-hailing service

December 13, 2018

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and Grab Holding Inc. announced that they have agreed to form a strategic partnership to collaborate in motorcycle ride-hailing service within the Southeast Asian region with a focus on Indonesia. As part of the partnership agreement, Yamaha Motor will invest US$150 million into Grab.

Through this partnership, Yamaha Motor and Grab aim to develop next-generation mobility services by implementing solutions and innovations which 1) leverage Yamaha Motor’s technology and know-how in motorcycle safety to enable safe and confident riding amongst Grab’s biker-partners in response to motorcycle ride-hailing service demand with the aim of increasing user satisfaction; and 2) lower the barriers to motorcycle purchasing for those engaged in (or considering to engage in) motorcycle ride-hailing.

As part of the 2030 Long-Term Vision which Yamaha Motor announced on Dec. 11, and under the banner of “ART for Human Possibilities,” this partnership leverages robotics technology (Advancing Robotics), addresses social issues through initiatives in the unique style of Yamaha (Rethinking Solution), and promotes innovations in mobility (Transforming Mobility). In doing so, it aims to expand the field of human potential and create a better society and lifestyles.

Yamaha Motor also aims to leverage Grab’s customer base in Southeast Asia and knowledge of the motorcycle ride-hailing business for future product development.

Grab is one of the most frequently used mobile platforms in Southeast Asia, providing everyday services that matter most to consumers. Today, the Grab app has been downloaded onto over 125 million mobile devices, giving users access to over 8 million drivers, merchants and agents. Grab has the region’s largest land transportation fleet and has completed over 2.5 billion rides since its founding in 2012. Grab offers the widest range of on-demand transport services in the region, in addition to food and package delivery services, across 235 cities in eight countries.

“We anticipate significant advancements through this collaboration with Grab via strategic partnership,” said executive officer Takuya Kinoshita, chief general manager of Motorcycle Business Operations, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. “As well as increasing user and driver safety and confidence through incorporation of Yamaha Motor technology in new user-participation type transport systems, we also anticipate further increases in the value of motorcycles in future mobility systems, and the creation of new mobility solutions.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Yamaha to develop and provide industry-leading safety mobility services to our motorcycle driver-partners in Indonesia,” said Grab Ming Maa, president of Grab. “The safety of our driver-partners and passengers is of paramount importance to us and we will continue to work with our partners to roll out innovative solutions and initiatives that make Grab the safest and most reliable ride-hailing platform in Southeast Asia.”